Abstract: An active acoustic system includes a thin-film sheet having an array of piezoelectric microstructures embossed in the film. Each piezoelectric microstructure may act as a speaker and/or a microphone. A control circuit is configured to individually address the piezoelectric microstructures to provide a separate voltage signal to, or receive a separate voltage signal from, each piezoelectric microstructure.

Abstract: A catheter shaft includes a first tube made of an extrudable copolymer that has reactive groups, and a second tube made of a polymeric material, which is welded to the first tube. A distal balloon is welded to the first tube.

Abstract: An implant having a preferably hollow cylindrical basic structure. A nonwoven fabric is disposed in and/or on the basic structure, the nonwoven fabric preferably comprising biocompatible thermoplastic polyurethane and/or a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, and a copolymer thereof, and/or a polymer including polyphosphazene. At least in at least one section of the implant, preferably at the proximal and/or distal ends of the implant, fastening means are provided or the nonwoven fabric is treated such that, at least in the expanded state of the implant, the protrusion of nonwoven fabric sections from the implant is significantly reduced. Furthermore, a method for producing such an implant is provided.

Abstract: An implant having a preferably hollow cylindrical basic structure. A nonwoven fabric is disposed in and/or on the basic structure, the nonwoven fabric preferably comprising biocompatible thermoplastic polyurethane and/or a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, and a copolymer thereof, and/or a polymer including polyphosphazene. At least in at least one section of the implant, preferably at the proximal and/or distal ends of the implant, fastening means are provided or the nonwoven fabric is treated such that, at least in the expanded state of the implant, the protrusion of nonwoven fabric sections from the implant is significantly reduced. Furthermore, a method for producing such an implant is provided.

Abstract: An implant having a preferably hollow cylindrical basic structure. A nonwoven fabric is disposed in and/or on the basic structure, the nonwoven fabric preferably comprising biocompatible thermoplastic polyurethane and/or a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid; polycaprolactone, and a copolymer thereof, and/or a polymer including polyphosphazene. At least in at least one section of the implant, preferably at the proximal and/or distal ends of the implant, fastening means are provided or the nonwoven fabric is treated such that, at least in the expanded state of the implant, the protrusion of nonwoven fabric sections from the implant is significantly reduced. Furthermore, a method for producing such an implant is provided.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, in particular for delivering medicaments, stents or medicament-coated stents in the region of a stenosis, comprising an outer shaft (4) an inner shaft (6), and a balloon (7) at the distal catheter end, which balloon is dilatable by a feedable pressure fluid and which is attached with its proximal end (8) to the outer shaft (4) and with its distal end (9) to the inner shaft (6) which protrudes the outer shaft (4) in the distal direction, and a cover sheath (15) which is seated in a covering position over the contracted balloon (7) and is displaceably guided on the outer shaft (4) and which is displaceable on the outer shaft (4) in the proximal direction via its front opening (17) by the dilating balloon (7) while continuously releasing the same from distal to proximal.

Abstract: A catheter shaft includes a first tube made of an extrudable copolymer that has reactive groups, and a second tube made of a polymeric material, which is welded to the first tube. A distal balloon is welded to the first tube.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a catheter shaft comprising (i) a first tube made of an extrudable copolymer that has reactive groups, and (ii) a second tube made of a polymeric material, which can be welded to the first tube, wherein the polymeric material of the second tube can be welded to the first tube at a temperature ?200° C.

Abstract: A method of forming an alignment film is provided. A photosensitive polymer material is provided, wherein the photosensitive polymer material defines a first pixel area and a second pixel area respectively defining a first sub-pixel area and the second sub-pixel area. In a first exposure, the photosensitive polymer material is irradiate by a first exposure light and a second exposure light to form a first alignment portion and a second alignment portion with different alignment directions in the first sub-pixel of the first pixel area and the second sub-pixel of the second pixel area respectively. In a second exposure, the photosensitive polymer material is irradiated with the first exposure light and the second exposure light to form a third alignment portion and a fourth alignment portion with different alignment directions in the first sub-pixel of the second pixel area and the second sub-pixel of the first pixel area respectively.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a catheter shaft comprising (i) a first tube made of an extrudable copolymer that has reactive groups, and (ii) a second tube made of a polymeric material, which can be welded to the first tube, wherein the polymeric material of the second tube can be welded to the first tube at a temperature ?200° C.

Abstract: A combined rolling membrane-balloon catheter, in particular for expanding stenoses in bodily vessels, including: an outer shaft (1) and an inner shaft (4) which is axially displaceable therein, an intermediate shaft (7) situated between the inner and outer shafts (4, 1) which is likewise axially displaceable, a rolling membrane (12) which is attached in a pressure-tight manner between the distal end (2) of the outer shaft (1) and the distal end (11) of the inner shaft (4), and which may be displaced between a passive position within the outer shaft (1) and an active position which is distally expanded from the outer shaft (1) by the action of pressure, and a dilatable balloon (14) which is attached in a pressure-tight manner between the distal end (11) of the inner shaft (4) and the distal end of the intermediate shaft (7), and which may be displaced between a passive position within the outer shaft (1) and proximally in front of the rolling membrane (12), and an active position which is distally expanded fro

Abstract: A balloon catheter, including an outer shaft with a distal end and a fluid line, an inner part located distal anterior to its distal end, as well as a balloon that can be inflated under the influence of a fluid that has been pressurized by the fluid line, that is fastened fluid-tight onto the distal end section of the outer shaft with a first fastening zone at its proximal end, and fluid-tight onto inner part with a second fastening zone at its distal end, whereby the balloon, on at least one of its two ends is designed without cone and with essentially unvarying thin wall thickness, the balloon is provided on at least one of its two ends with respectively one twist anterior to its fastening zone, and a second balloon is placed above the first balloon and is also provided with a twist on at least one of its two ends anterior to the fastening zone, that is directed in the opposite direction of the twist of the first balloon end that is positioned underneath.

Abstract: A mechanical transcatheter heart valve prosthesis including a support structure that can be expanded from a first size designed for minimally invasive insertion to a functional second size and a flexible heart valve made of a composite material containing woven fabric that is embedded in an elastic matrix and locally reinforced by fibers, the heart valve comprising a plurality of leaflets.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, in particular for delivering medicaments, stents or medicament-coated stents in the region of a stenosis, comprising an outer shaft (4) an inner shaft (6), and a balloon (7) at the distal catheter end, which balloon is dilatable by a feedable pressure fluid and which is attached with its proximal end (8) to the outer shaft (4) and with its distal end (9) to the inner shaft (6) which protrudes the outer shaft (4) in the distal direction, and a cover sheath (15) which is seated in a covering position over the contracted balloon (7) and is displaceably guided on the outer shaft (4) and which is displaceable on the outer shaft (4) in the proximal direction via its front opening (17) by the dilating balloon (7) while continuously releasing the same from distal to proximal.

Abstract: A method for alignment treatment of a substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes the steps of: forming an alignment film including a plurality of molecules with curable parts on a substrate; applying an electrical field on the substrate to rotate the curable parts; and curing the curable parts such that the curable parts are cured along a first direction. A manufacturing method of the LCD device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined rolling membrane-balloon catheter, in particular for expanding stenoses in bodily vessels, including: an outer shaft (1) and an inner shaft (4) which is axially displaceable therein, an intermediate shaft (7) situated between the inner and outer shafts (4, 1) which is likewise axially displaceable, a rolling membrane (12) which is attached in a pressure-tight manner between the distal end (2) of the outer shaft (1) and the distal end (11) of the inner shaft (4), and which may be displaced between a passive position within the outer shaft (1) and an active position which is distally expanded from the outer shaft (1) by the action of pressure, and a dilatable balloon (14) which is attached in a pressure-tight manner between the distal end (11) of the inner shaft (4) and the distal end of the intermediate shaft (7), and which may be displaced between a passive position within the outer shaft (1) and proximally in front of the rolling membrane (12), and an active position which is distally expanded fro

Abstract: An implant having a preferably hollow cylindrical basic structure. A nonwoven fabric is disposed in and/or on the basic structure, the nonwoven fabric preferably comprising biocompatible thermoplastic polyurethane and/or a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid; polycaprolactone, and a copolymer thereof, and/or a polymer including polyphosphazene. At least in at least one section of the implant, preferably at the proximal and/or distal ends of the implant, fastening means are provided or the nonwoven fabric is treated such that, at least in the expanded state of the implant, the protrusion of nonwoven fabric sections from the implant is significantly reduced. Furthermore, a method for producing such an implant is provided.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, including an outer shaft with a distal end and a fluid line, an inner part located distal anterior to its distal end, as well as a balloon that can be inflated under the influence of a fluid that has been pressurized by the fluid line, that is fastened fluid-tight onto the distal end section of the outer shaft with a first fastening zone at its proximal end, and fluid-tight onto inner part with a second fastening zone at its distal end, whereby the balloon, on at least one of its two ends is designed without cone and with essentially unvarying thin wall thickness, the balloon is provided on at least one of its two ends with respectively one twist anterior to its fastening zone, and a second balloon is placed above the first balloon and is also provided with a twist on at least one of its two ends anterior to the fastening zone, that is directed in the opposite direction of the twist of the first balloon end that is positioned underneath.

Abstract: A composite bipolar plate for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is prepared as follows: a) compounding vinyl ester and graphite powder to form bulk molding compound (BMC) material, the graphite powder content ranging from 60 wt % to 95 wt % based on the total weight of the graphite powder and vinyl ester, wherein carbon fiber 1-20 wt %, modified organo clay or noble metal plated modified organo clay 0.5-10 wt %, and one or more conductive fillers selected form: carbon nanotube (CNT) 0.1-5 wt %, nickel plated carbon fiber 0.5-10 wt %, nickel plated graphite 2.5-40 wt %, and carbon black 2-30 wt %, based on the weight of the vinyl ester resin, are added during the compounding; b) molding the BMC material from step a) to form a bipolar plate having a desired shaped at 80-200° C. and 500-4000 psi.

Abstract: A method for alignment treatment of a substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes the steps of: forming an alignment film including a plurality of molecules with curable parts on a substrate; applying an electrical field on the substrate to rotate the curable parts; and curing the curable parts such that the curable parts are cured along a first direction. A manufacturing method of the LCD device is also disclosed.